Brake control apparatus

Abstract

The brake control apparatus sets a target deceleration ( 1 ) in accordance with an amount of operation of the brake pedal. It calculates another target deceleration ( 2 ) on the basis of the target deceleration ( 1 ). In this calculation, limit values of deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients with respect to the target deceleration ( 1 ) are set on the basis of the target deceleration ( 1 ), and then the target deceleration ( 2 ) is obtained by correcting the target deceleration ( 1 ) on the basis of the established deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. Accordingly, the deceleration increasing/decreasing gradient becomes small when braking is gentle. This makes it possible to curb an abrupt change in brake force to achieve smooth brake control. Further, the deceleration increasing/decreasing gradient becomes larger when braking is abrupt. Accordingly, it is possible to create a great change in brake force to provide a high response.

1. A brake control apparatus, comprising:
 a first target vehicle deceleration operation portion for setting a first target vehicle deceleration determined in accordance with an amount of operation of a brake operating member; 
 a second target vehicle deceleration operation portion for calculating a second target vehicle deceleration on the basis of said first target vehicle deceleration calculated by said first target vehicle deceleration operation portion; and 
 an actuator for generating a brake force providing said second target vehicle deceleration calculated by said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion, 
 wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets limit values of a deceleration increasing gradient and a deceleration decreasing gradient with respect to said first target vehicle deceleration on the basis of the first target vehicle deceleration, and obtains said second target vehicle deceleration by correcting said first target vehicle deceleration on the basis of said set deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. 
 
   
   
     2. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients on the basis of a difference between said first target vehicle deceleration and said second target vehicle deceleration. 
   
   
     3. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger with increases in an absolute value of the difference between said first target vehicle deceleration and said second target vehicle deceleration. 
   
   
     4. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion provides feedback on the magnitude of said second target vehicle deceleration to establish said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. 
   
   
     5. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion provides feedback on the magnitude of said second target vehicle deceleration to establish said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. 
   
   
     6. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion provides feedback on the magnitude of said second target vehicle deceleration to establish said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. 
   
   
     7. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as said second target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     8. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as said second target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     9. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as said second target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     10. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients on the basis of a differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration. 
   
   
     11. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients on the basis of a differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration. 
   
   
     12. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients on the basis of a differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration. 
   
   
     13. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as an absolute value of the differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     14. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as an absolute value of the differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     15. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said second target vehicle deceleration operation portion sets said deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients to be larger as an absolute value of the differential value of said first target vehicle deceleration becomes larger. 
   
   
     16. A brake control apparatus, comprising:
 a first value operation portion that converts an amount of operation of a brake operating member to a first value of a parameter corresponding to the amount of operation in order to generate a brake force corresponding to the amount of operation of said brake operating member; 
 a second value operation portion that calculates a second value on the basis of said first value calculated by said first value operation portion; 
 an actuator that generates the brake force based on said second value calculated by said second value operation portion, 
 wherein said second value operation portion sets limit values of a deceleration increasing gradient and a deceleration decreasing gradient for said first value on the basis of the first value, and obtains said second value by correcting said first value on the basis of said set deceleration increasing and decreasing gradients. 
 
   
   
     17. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said first value operation portion calculates a first target vehicle deceleration as said first value, and 
 said second value operation portion calculates a second target vehicle deceleration as said second value. 
 
   
   
     18. The brake control apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said first value operation portion calculates, as said first value, a first pressurizing force generated by said actuator, and 
 said second value operation portion calculates a second pressurizing force as said second value.